Ukraine handed over two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Zelensky’s public motive was interpreted as seeking military aid

Zelensky revealed in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23 that Ukraine had recently sent two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. (AFP)

Ukrainian President Zelensky recently publicly announced at the United Nations General Assembly that Ukraine had handed over two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) submitted its analysis to Congress on the 30th, believing that Zelensky may hope to gain support in South Korea for providing weapons and other assistance to Ukraine by making the transfer public.

Agence France-Presse reported that South Korean congressman Yoo Young-ha reported the National Intelligence Service's assessment after the meeting on the 30th that intelligence authorities believe that Zelensky may be hoping to form public opinion in South Korea in support of military aid to Ukraine after revealing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. This is the first time that Seoul's intelligence agency has made a detailed analysis of Ukraine's public motives since the diplomatic dispute broke out.

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Another focus of attention is the inconsistency between the two parties' previous statements on "confidentiality." South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 29th that during multi-level negotiations, South Korea and Ukraine had reached a "clear understanding" on the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, which should be kept confidential based on the safety of the prisoners of war and their families; South Korea has also asked Ukraine to formally explain and apologize.

The Dong-A Ilbo previously reported that Ukraine and South Korea had held many negotiations on the transfer of prisoners of war, and the relevant discussions also involved the exchange of Russian prisoners of war and South Korea's provision of air defense weapons. The Korea Daily analyzed that Ukraine has recently continued to link North Korea's participation in the war with South Korea's security and requested air defense weapons from Seoul. Therefore, this public prisoner transfer was also interpreted as a possible diplomatic signal to solicit military support from South Korea.

At present, South Korea still maintains its policy of not providing lethal weapons to belligerents. Two North Korean prisoners of war arrived in South Korea via a third country in mid-September and are being protected and investigated by relevant units.

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